Improvement in magneto-electric machines



T. W. LIVINGSTON.

v MIAJEITEHJTO ELEGTRIC-MACHIN'ES.

Patented March 28, 1876.

momma N-PEI'ERS, PHOTO LTHOGRAP WASHINGTON D P UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

THOMAS W. LIVINGSTON, OF AINSWORTH, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAGNETO-ELECTRlC MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,361, dated March2-3, 1876; application filed October 29, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. LIVING- sToN, of Ainsworth, in the countyof Washington and Sta-teof Iowa, have invented a new and ImprovedMagneto-Electric Machine, ofwhich the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of myimproved magneto-electric machine; Fig. 2, a vertical transverse sectionon line 0 c, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section on line 5c00,- Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a detail top view of the same, showing devicefor changing the current.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to an improved magneto-electric machine of verycompact size, that is designed to take the place of galvanic batteriesfor electro-medical purposes, being so arranged that the same is notliable to get out of order, and capable of being applied for differentpurposes in which electric currents are required.

The machine allows of thenicest adjustment, producing weaker andstronger currents, according as the person can bear the shocks.

The invention consists of straight magnets with alternating polarities,and wire coils wound in one direction, combined with a revolving-shafthaving at both ends as many radial arms as there are magnets, the shaftbeing provided with a commutator in connection with conducting-springs,attached to a pivoted lateral block set by a lever into a notched platefor producing currents of uniform or reversed polarities.

In the drawing, A A are cylindrical magnets, of which any suitable evennumber may be employed, six being shown in the drawing, which aresupported on disk-shaped standards B, braced by lateral pieces B. Themagnets A are placed with alternating poles into the supportingstandards or frame B, and are provided with coils wound in one directionthroughout all the coils. A central shaft, 0, with as many radial ironarms 0 at both ends as there are magnets, is revolved by gear connectionwith crank-shafts a, that pass radially through one of the lateralpieces of frame B, one having a larger cog-wheel, b,

that gears with a smaller wheel, I), of the second shaft, which gearsagain by a bevelwheel, (1, with a pinion, d, of the main shaft 0. Byrevolving the crank-shaft, gearing directly with the pinion of the mainshaft, the speed of the same is slower than when the crank shaft withthe larger cog-wheel is revolved which imparts a greater speed to thecentral shaft and radial arms. The coils are.

connected at the ends by metal caps and.

strips, or in other suitable manner, and the wire ends of the wholeseries attached to springs D, which are applied to one of the lateraltop pieces B of frame B, and extended to the interior of the machine toform contact with a commutator, E, arranged on an insulating-sleeve ofthe central shaft.

The top piece B is pivoted to the side standards for the purpose ofswinging in the frame being set by a pivoted lever-handle, c, that looksinto a notched plate, e.

The top piece B is further provided between the coil-connecting springsD with two conducting-springs, D, which are made of greater width thanthe outer springs D, and placed in metallic contact with insulatedconducting -strips f, that communicate by connecting-wires with theelectrodes or other places to which the current is to be applied. Theouter springs D form contact with outer steel rings g, of the commutatorE, while each of the broader middle springs D forms alternately contactwith two toothed wheels, g, which are provided with as many teeth asthere are magnets. The toothed wheels 9 are placed in such a manner onthe shaft that the tooth of one is intermediately between two teeth ofthe adjoining wheel, so that each conductor-spring D form's twice asmany contacts therewith as there are magnets. One of the outer rings, g,is furthermore placed in metallic connection with one Wheel, 9, of eachset, the opposite outer ring being connected to the two remaining Wheelsof" each set.

When the radial arms are revolved by turning either one of thecrankshafts, currents of opposite directions are induced in the coils ofthe magnetsone when the arms approach vthe magnets and one when theyrecede from the sameproducing thus, with six magnets, twelve currents ofalternating polarities at each revolution of the shaft. The currents ofopposite direction may be reversed by the commutator, so that a constantcurrent in one direction is obtained, which may be applied fortelegraphing and other purposes; or alternating currents,with shocks ofvarying strength, may be produced by setting the commutator to interruptthe current at the points of greatest intensity.

When thelever is set into the farthest notch of the plate e, the topblock B is thrown with the springs against the commutator E, the broadersprings 1) connecting with the teeth of the outer wheels g, so that thecurrent induced by the approach of the arms to the magnet ends passesfrom the coils over one of the outer springs,D, to its ring, then by theadjoining wheel to the spring I), and then over the conductingstrip tothe electrodes and back over the other spring, D, to its wheel, and overthe adjoining ring, and the opposite outer spring D, to the other coilend. The current induced by the receding of the arms from the magnets,being in opposite direction to the former, passes in reversed directionover the springs, but, as the position of the same has been changedsimultaneously by the forward motion of the shaft for one-twelfth partof its revolution, contact with the inner wheels g is formed, and thecurrent thereby reversed when the arms are exactly opposite the magnets,and when they are half-way between the same, currents of equal directionbeing thus sent over the conducting strips and wires. By setting thelever of the pivot-block into the first notch, the position of thesprings on the wheels will be changed in such a manner that thereversion of theinduction-currents takes place at the time when the armspass from their position in front of the magnets, and again when theyare just approaching the front. This produces the interruption andreversion of the current at the point of its greatest intensity, andthereby the severest shocks admitting the application of the engine byvarying the speed of the arms, with greater or lesser force to medicalpurposes. By throwing the top block still further back so that thesprings are detached from the commutator a direct connection is madebetween the springs D, and the conductor-strips f, cutting out thesprings D, and producing thereby the direct unmodified currents of themachine.

I am aware that magneto-electric machines in which the coils are placedon the arms, re-

volving in front of stationary magnets, are

well known, while in my machine the coils are placed on the stationarymagnets, and the arms merely revolved in front of the same, whichutilizes the power of induction of the magnets to a greater extent, asno loss is occasioned by the revolving armatures, as in the presentmachines.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination of the revolving armature carryingmain shaft, having bevel-pinion, with two crank-shafts placed at rightangles thereto, and connected by gear-wheels, to produce greater orlesser speed of the main shaft, substantially as specified.

2. The revolving main. shaft having insulated commutator, in combinationwith coilconnecting and current-conducting springs attached to a lateralpivotblock of the frame, to adjust springs for producing currents ofuniform or opposite direction, or interrupt entirely contact withcommutator, as and for the purposes described.

THOMAS W. LIVINGSTON.

Witnesses:

JOSIAH HARDING, S. A. CHAMBERS.

